The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-08
| The BISEBILL OUTLOOK.
OLD TIME ENTHUSIASM GRAD
TALLY REyIvING.
Prospect for Only Six Clubs in the
Southern League-Dots From
the Diamond.

the Diamond.
The baseball season is rapidly APP
preaching, and interest in the sport is
reviving into old time enthusiasm.
Manager Sneed has given up his bill
lard bu mess, and ent sred the ring OF
skirmishers for players and dates for
exhibition games with an activity
which goes straight to the heart Of the
average citizen who can forget linen
busters and palm leaf fans while
watching deceptive curves and
wrsngles between players and the
umpire.
The tone Of the Atlanta Consultation
leaves no loom for doubt in regard to
the scheme to put league club in the
Gate City. That paper Is una,terably
opposed to the idea, and, OF course,
that settles it. No club can expect to
live in town with the local press ar
Iayed against it. The idea was, We
thought, feasible one, but 1t would be
worse than folly to make the
venture under the circumstances.
President Morrow has taken a
conservative view OF the matter all
along, and previous to his leaving for
the Sjuth expressed some doubt as to
the outcome. Ii is now safe to assert
that the league will contain only six
clubs, as no other club can be secured
to make the eighth member. The out
come OF the matter is to DO regretted
more on accounted Birmingham than
anything else, as the club projectors
in that city gave every ind cation OF
putting formidable club in the field.
DAY OF THE KIDD
The sporting editor Of the Nashville
Union ssgely remarks that "this is ev-
identity the day of the kid. Now the
astute manager who neglects the
golden opportunity and fails to enroll
a few Of the rising generation in his
ranks is looked upon as one devoid OF
business tact and shrewdness. The
season is hardly closed before agents
are skipping over the country, like
Kansas grssshoppers, in search OF
some alleged woader that has but
recently left his mothers apron
strings. Promises of dying fame and
big pay, and what not, are poured into
his unsuspecting cara by these modest
emissaries; he sigLs and awaits with
restless anxiety his debut on the
league carpet. He makes 1t amid the
plaudits OF admitting thousands who
are attracted by the wonderful fairy
tales which have heralded his appear
apce. His work is closely scrutinized
and fearlessly criticized, and ii he
passes through the trying ordeal he Ia
indeed fortunate, for he stands as one
winner against many failures. Really
the path Of the kid is rocky one."
OLD BEFORE THRIR TIME.
Speaking of the unaccountable idea
of relegaling baseball players to
the shady side before they have
reached the prime, the Nashville Union
says: "Bsll players grow old with
amazing rapidity in this progressive
age, at least 30 in public estimation.
Although baseball is yet in Its infancy
in our opinion many of the names en-
rolled on the club rosters In its early
days have passed out OF mind. Mum
beers have journeyed over the great
river, whtrs diamonds are plenti-
full aud the terIors OF the blacklist
are unknown, VIII lie come are now
interested in various branches Of
commerce. or eklng out a precari out
existence by their wits and upon the
pl estige OF their former achievements
But The crazs for young blood,
which is now on, brings prominently
to mind the fact that comparatively
email number OF those now conneCte d
with The game Ia one way or another
are past middle life. Such men al
jim Mccormick, Will White, Charlie
Snyder, George Bradley, Dick Pnean
Pete hotalinV, Hick Carpenter anC
Ed. Fuse lUacn are being clasSed al
old men, when in fact they have no
reached their prime"
BACKsToP BAKER.
Manager Sneed has secured a rat
Ting team for Memphis the cominI
season, and among the best OF then
is George Baker. The Sporting New
has this to say OF him: "Georg,
Baker has been signed by Manage
Sneed OF the Memphis team. Geork,
signed his contract in the Sporting MV
office last Sunday and then forwarde,
it to Sneed. In the whole Southern
/. Le5gue no better backstop will b,
found this year than George Baker
In the oldeR time he caught Gold
smith and Corcoran every ds,
in the week. Three years ago hi
was the leading backstop OF tn,
, st. Louis Union team and did as fin
work in the position as any man II
the country. Two years ego he cauRh
the lightning pitching OF Boyle OF tn,
st. Louis League team. Last year h
was with Kansas City and, owing b
illness, did not play up to his stand
ard. This year he is himself agar
; and he viii do good work for Mem
phis."